Swallowtail Butterfly

Swallowtail butterflies are found everywhere around the world except in the Arctic. They get their name from the taillike appearance of their hindwings, although many species are tailless. Many species have yellow, orange, red, green, or blue markings on an iridescent black, blue, or green background. Many swallowtails mimic the coloration and patterns of butterflies that are protected by a bad taste. The larvae are brightly colored and feed on leaves. Black and yellow eyelike spots on the thorax of some larvae resemble the head of a snake. Many have scent glands and discharge a bad-smelling substance when disturbed.

credit: John and Karen Hollingsworth, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service